Etihad Airways wins 'Nationalisation Initiative of the Year'

Etihad Airways was named winner of the 'Nationalisation Initiative of the Year' award at the Middle East HR Excellence Awards 2015.
Time Aerospace thumbnail

The award was presented during a gala reception held in Dubai, attended by senior professionals from across the Middle East HR sector. The airline was also shortlisted in two other categories, including HR Team of the Year and Innovation in Executive & Leadership Development. 

The Middle East HR Excellence Awards recognise the achievements of individuals, teams and organisations that have contributed to the development of the HR profession in the region. The awards showcase best practice in HR and talent management in the Middle East, and honour HR professionals in the public and private sectors for their contributions in creating a high-performing workforce. 

Ray Gammell, Etihad Airways’ chief people and performance officer, said: “It’s an honour to be recognised by the Middle East HR Excellence Awards. Our People and Performance team of more than 300 professionals has worked exceptionally hard this year, and I’m delighted to see the efforts of the team acknowledged by our peers in the human capital sector. 

“We continue to invest in developing UAE nationals into future aviation leaders through our highly successful training, business exchange and educational opportunities, which is our top priority. This year alone we welcomed more than 1,000 UAE national employees, and we are delighted to be appreciated for the way in which we source and develop our local workforce. 

“UAE nationals are now ranked the number one nationality group within the airline, as well as amongst employees at manager level, executive level and within the pilot community.”